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THE  LIFE  OF 
II 

I^eu.  Janies  ^lexapder  Sl^orter, 

ONE  OF  THE 

BISHOPS  OF  THE  AFRICAN  M.  E.  CHURCH, 

BY 

Alexander  W.  "Wayman. 

WITH  AN  INTRODUCTION  BY 

Rev.  James  H.  A,  Johnson,  D.  D. 


BALTIMORE  : 

J.  Lanahan,  Publisher, 
1890. 


Diy>S. 

“3>  5 5 '7  W 


flffectioriately  dedicated 
to  ti\e  President  and  Trustees  of 
Wilberforce  University, 
Otiio. 


k 


Introduction. 


Every  man  of  merit  is  entitled  to  a niche 
in  the  temple  of  fame.  A true  character  is 
worthy  of  all  .the  honor  that  can  be  bestowed 
upon  it.  When  it  stands  forth  in  all  its 
strength,  it  is  a conspicuous  object  for  exal- 
ted admiration. 

A man  of  character  is  one  who  sets  his 
eye  upon  the  right,  and,  regardless  of  all 
opposition,  keeps  on  in  the  “even  tenor  of 
his  way.”  He  makes  progress  against 
adverse  influences,  and  establishes  himself  by 
making  non-compromising  resolutions. 

Men  of  character  are  “the  men  of  mark” — 
men  of  integrity,  who  “will  never  listen  to 


6 


INTRODUCTION. 


any  reason  against  conscience.”  They  are 
wise  men  : and  it  is  said — “A  wise  man  will  be 
more  anxious  to  deserve  a fair  name  than  to 
possess  it ; and  this  will  teach  him  so  to  live 
as  not  to  be  afraid  to  die.” 

Such  men  are  the  substantial  men  of  life, 
who  live  not  merely  within  the  cycle  of  a 
generation,  but  along  the  course  of  centuries 
and  through  the  rounds  of  ages.  They  are 
examples  for  the  world,  and  eminent  in  this 
respect,  when  endowed  with  strong  mental 
powers  and  cultivated  according  to  moral 
law.  Thus  qualified,  they  constrain  the 
depraved  to  follow  them  and  observe  a better 
method  of  living.  They  do  something  to 
show  the  value  of  true  manhood,  and  go 
through  eventful  lives  which  immortalize 
their  names  along  the  lines  of  history. 

Such  men  as  these  are  placed  on  granite 
pedestals,  and  put  where  they  can  be  seen  as 


INTRODUCTION. 


7 


the  representatives  of  virtue.  Statesman- 
ship, belligerancy,  art,  science  aad  religion 
have  all  had  their  prominent  individuals  to 
be  held  up  for  the  admiration  of  the  world. 
They  have  been  chiseled  out  of  marble, 
carved  out  of  wood,  and  molded  out  of  clay, 
that  their  features  might  be  stamped  upon 
the  minds  of  those  who  should  come  after 
them.  They  have  been  put  in  various  atti- 
tudes to  be  recognized  and  honored  for  their 
deeds. 

In  this  wise  has  been  perpetuated  the 
name  of  a' Moses,  a Joshua,  a Tubal-Cain,  a 
Solomon  and  a Paul.  None  greater,  though, 
than  a Paul,  can  be  found  in  the  person  of  a 
Sumner,  a Grrant,  a Carlo  Dolce,  or  an  Edison. 
He  whose  character  is  built  up  on  the  ever- 
lasting principles  of  religion,  effects  all 
classes  of  society,  and  towers  up  over  and 
above  all  worldly  representatives;  just  as 


8 


INTRODUCTION. 


the  lofty  pyramids  of  Egypt  tower  above  all 
surrounding  objects. 

Those  men  who  have  formed  ideas  of 
moral  greatness,  and  made  them  conform  to 
every  hue  reflected  in  the  gospel  prism,  and 
have  come  out  in  the  end  triumphant  over 
bitter  oppositions,  are  the  men  who  have 
fixed  themselves  so  that  they  never  will  be 
forgotten  by  the  righteous,  and  cannot  be 
destroyed  by  the  wicked.  Their  path  “is  as 
the  shining  light  that  shineth  more  and 
more  unto  the  perfect  day.”  Men  of  this 
order  come  as  the  outgrowths  of  t*he  church 
— the  institution  that  is  greater  than  the 
world ; consequently,  they  must  be  greater 
than  the  representatives  of  the  world. 

Luther  in  his  gown,  is  greater  than  a hero 
in  his  uniform.  Such  men  represent  the 
power  that  refines,  strengthens  and  develops  ^ 
the  good  institutions  of  society.  This  is  the 


INTRODUCTION. 


9 


reason  why  their  deeds  are  written  down 
and  their  forms  are  lifted  up  to  make  their 
names  immortal. 

The  subject  of  this  little  volume,  so  tend- 
erly and  attractively  written  by  the  author, 
was  one  of  those  very  men  who  have  made 
themselves  “Men  of  Mark,”  by  building  up 
character.  His  regard  for  integrity  and  his 
contempt  for  policy,  made  him  a reputation, 
as  a member  of  the  “household  of  faith,” 
that  was  extended  throughout  the  length  and 
breadth  of  his  Connection.  He  who  reads 
this  well  written  little  book,  and  observes  its 
subject  standing  before  him  in  all  the  full- 
ness of  his  stern,  unyielding  moral  character, 
will  concede  him  to  be  a model  in  Christ, 
worthy  of  zealous  imitation. 

Hagerstown,  Md.,  July  16th,  1890. 


CHAPTER  I. 


Rev.  James  Alexander  Shorter  may  be 
very  properly  classed  among  the  many  good 
and  pious  ministers  who  have  filled  the 
pulpits  of  the  African  M.  E.  Churches  during 
the  present  century. 

He  was  born  in  Washington,  D.  C.,  Febru- 
ary Idth,  1817.  He  was  therefore,  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  three  score  and  ten  years, 
four  months  and  twenty-seven  days  old. 

There  was  something  rather  peculiar  about 
him  in  his  school-boy  days,  that  caused  some 
of  his  school-mates  to  call  him  “Uncle  James,” 
others  called  him  “Old  man  Shorter.” 

His  father,  Charles,  and  his  mother,  Eliza- 
beth Shorter,  were  born  free;  and  therefore, 
all  their  children  were  free.  Charles  Shorter, 
the  father  of  James  Alexander  Shorter,  was 


Rev.  James  Alexandek  Shorter.  11 


known  in  the  western  part  of  W ashington  City 
as  a man  that  was  engaged  in  the  winter 
season  in  the  oyster  business.  It  was  a cus- 
tom among  those  who  were  engaged  in  that 
kind  of  business,  when  they  went  out  at 
night  to  blow  a horn,  to  let  the  people  know 
that  they  were  coming.  Charles  Shorter 
preferred  his  natural  voice ; in  a calm  night 
he  could  be  heard  at  some  distance  crying 
Oysters  ! 

Elizabeth  Shorter,  the  mother  of  James 
Alexander  Shorter,  for  many  years  kept  a 
stand  in  the  old  20th  Street  Market.  She 
furnished  meals  to  the  butchers  and  others. 
By  the  exercise  of  proper  economy,  the 
family  accumulated  a considerable  amount  of 
money,  and  purchased  a fine  property  on  20th 
street,  where  they  lived,  and  raised  a large 
family  of  children ; and  there  the  father  and 
mother,  at  a good  old  age,  died. 


12 


The  Life  of 


At  the  old  homestead  in  Washington,  D.  C., 
James  Alexander  Shorter  grew  up.  After 
receiving  a little  education  in  the  day  and 
Sunday  School,  his  parents  concluded  to  give 
him  the  trade  of  a barber. 

Rev.  Walter  Proctor,  then  of  Philadelphia, 
Pa.,  being  an  intimate  friend  of  the  Shorter- 
family,  was  considered  the  proper  person  to 
take  the  charge  of  young  Shorter.  He  was 
sent  to  Philadelphia,  and  put  with  one  Mr. 
Burroughs,  who  was  then  one  of  the  most 
popular  barbers  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia. 
Rev.  Walter  Proctor  looked  after  him  during 
his  apprenticeship,  and  gave  it  as  his  opinion 
that  James  Alexander  Shorter  was  one  of 
the  most  moral  and  upright  young  men  that 
ever  came  under  his  notice. 

Finishing  his  trade  in  the  city  of  Philadel- 
phia, he  took  leave  of  his  many  friends  and 
started  for  the  far  West  to  seek  his  fortune 


Rev.  James  Alexander  Shorter.  13 


among  strangers  in  a strange  land.  He  went 
as  far  west  as  Gralena,  Illinois.  While  there 
he  was  convicted  of  sin,  and  for  several  days 
wept  as  between  the  porch  and  altar. 
There  was  one  hymn  he  used  to  sing  in  the 
moments  of  his  sadness;  it  was  this: 

“Come  humble  sinner  in  whose  breast, 

A thousand  thoughts  revolve; 

Come  with  your  guilt  and  sin  oppressed, 

And  make  this  last  resolve.” 

After  seeking  for  some  days,  he  said  he 
“found  peace,  which  was  joy  after  grief,  ease 
after  pain,  and  light  after  darkness.”  He 
then  united  with  the  M.  E.  Church,  there 
being  no  A.  M.  E.  Church  in  Gralena  at  that 
time. 

His  stay  in  Gralena,  Illinois,  was  short. 
He  returned  to  Philadelphia  to  see  his  old 
friend.  Rev.  Walter  Proctor,  as  well  as 
other  friends ; and  while  in  that  city,  he  cast 


14 


The  Life  of 


his  lot  with  that  church  in  which  he  was 
destined  one  day  to  be  one  of  the  honored 
Bishops. 

There  lived  in  Philadelphia  at  that  time  a 
friend  of  his  by  the  name  of  John  Freeman. 
He  asked  to  be  assigned  to  the  same  class 
with  his  friend.  His  request  was  granted. 

Having  complied  with  the  injunction  of 
the  great  teacher,  Matthew  6 chap.,  35th 
verse,  “But  seek  ye  first  the  kingdom  of  God 
and  his  righteousness,  and  all  these  things 
shall  be  added  unto  you,  ” he  thought  it  was 
about  time  for  him  to  select  a companion  for 
life.  There  was  a young  Christain  lady  in 
Philadelphia  by  the  name  of  Miss  Julia  Ann 
Steward ; to  her  he  offered  his  hand  and  heart 
and  she  accepted,  and  they  were  married. 

In  1838,  James  Alexander  Shorter,  with 
his  wife  Julia  Ann,  started  for  Washington, 
D.  C.,  the  home  of  his  youth,  as  well  as  the 


Rev.  James  Alexander  Shorter.  15 


residence  of  his  father,  mother,  brother  and 
sisters.  He  and  his  wife  met  a warm  recep- 
tion by  the  entire  family. 

He  united  with  Israel  Church,  then  under 
the  pastoral  charge  of  Rev.  John  Cornish. 
It  was  not  long  before  he  began  to  show 
signs  of  a coming  man.  He  remained  in 
Israel  Church  until  the  Union  Bethel  Church 
was  built ; then  he  removed  his  membership 
there,  believing  that  he  could  be  more  useful 
in  helping  that  young  and  struggling  church 
than  to  remain  at  Israel  Church. 

The  late  Rev.  John  Francis  Cook  was  then 
the  steward,  and  being  an  excellent  scholar, 
did  nearly  all  the  business  of  the  Church. 
When  he  resigned  and  joined  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  James  A.  Shorter  was  made 
his  successor  in  office;  and  no  young  man 
was  more  highly  appreciated  by  the  entire 
membership  than  he. 


16 


The  Life  of 

About  this  time  there  were  three  young 
men  in  the  A.  M.  E Church  in  Washington, 
D.  C.,  that  attracted  the  attention  of  the 
entire  membership.  One  was  James  A.  Shor- 
ter, on  account  of  his  stern  integrity;  John 
F.  Thomas,  for  his  towering  eloquence;  and 
Wm.  D.  W.  Schureman,  the  young  silver 
tongued  orator.  They  were  not  at  all  dis- 
appointed, for  all  three  of  them  have  made 
their  mark  in  the  world  and  Church. 


CHAPTER  II. 


In  1846  the  Quarterly  Conference  of  the 
Union  Bethel  Church,  Washington,  D.  C., 
recommended  James  A.  Shorter,  and  the 
Quarterly  Conference  of  Israel  Church  re- 
commended  John  F.  Thomas  to  the  Balti- 
more Conference  for  admission.  They  were 
examined  by  a committee,  the  present  Bishop 
Payne  being  chairman,  who  reported  the 
examination  favorably,  and  they  were  admit- 
ted; and  when  the  Baltimore  Conference 
adjourned,  these  two  young  itinerants  were 
seen  mounted  on  their  horses,  leaving  their 
homes  for  the  work  assigned  them  in  Penn- 
sylvania; for  then  the  Baltimore  Conference 
extended  into  that  State.  James  A.  Shorter 
was  assigned  to  Lewistown  Circuit  as  the 


18 


The  Life  of 


colleague  of  Rev.  Isaac  B.  Parker ; and  John 
F.  Thomas,  to  Lancaster  Circuit,  as  the 
colleague  of  Rev.  Adam  S.  Driver. 

The  Lewistown  Circuit  was  a long  one, 
and  during  the  winter  it  was  very  cold,  yet 
young  Shorter  was  always  there  at  the 
appointed  time. 

In  April,  1847,  he  attended  the  Conference 
in  Baltimore  City,  which  met  in  Bethel 
Church.  There  had  been  a minister  stationed 
in  Bethel  Church,  by  the  name  of  Henry  C. 
Turner,  who  had  been  dead  but  a short  time 
A great  many  persons  thought  young  Shorter- 
looked  very  much  like  him.  James  A. 
Shorter  was  appointed  to  preach  on 
Sunday  in  Bethel,  and  that  part  of  the  con- 
gregation who  believed  he  looked  like  the 
deceased  Turner,  became  affected  and  bowed 
their  heads.  The  young  preacher  thought 
it  was  because  he  was  doing  so  very  badly 


Rev.  James  Alexander  Shorter.  19 


that  caused  so  many  heads  to  hang  down ; 
but,  when  the  matter  was  explained,  it  was 
a great  relief  to  him. 

In  April,  1848,  he  was  ordained  a Deacon 
in  the  same  church  that  recommended  him 
to  the  Conference  for  admission,  and  was 
appointed  to  Penningtonville  Circuit,  where 
he  labored  successfully.  He  attended  the 
General  Conference  that  met  at  Philadelphia, 
Pa.,  May,  1848. 

In  April,  1850,  he  was  elected  and  ordained 
an  Elder,  and  appointed  to  the  Lancaster 
Circuit  in  Pennsylvania.  During  the  time 
there,  he  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  his  wife 
Julia  Ann,  leaving  him  with  three  children, 
two  sons  and  one  daughter. 

When  the  Baltimore  Conference  met  in 
Baltimore  City  in  1851,  Bishop  Quinn,  who 
presided,  seeing  how  very  energetic  young 
Shorter  was  in  the  business  of  the  Confer- 


20 


The  Life  of 


ence,  said,  ‘T  am  pleased  to  see  how  he 
(Shorter)  stands  up and  when  he  came  to 
arrange  the  appointments  for  the  ministers^ 
he  said  to  his  secretary,  “Put  down  James 
A.  Shorter  to  Israel  Church,  Washington, 
D.  C.,  for  I think  he  is  the  man  for  that 
place.” 

When  the  news  reached  Washington  that 
he  was  appointed  to  Israel  Church,  there 
was  some  dissatisfaction  expressed — not  to 
him  as  a man  and  minister,  but,  as  he  was 
raised  there,  the  members  feared  he  would 
not  be  able  to  command  the  respect  that  a 
stranger  would. 

Mrs.  Lethia  Tanner,  who  had  been  the 
mother  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church  in  Washing- 
ton, D.  C.,  for  many  years,  learning  that 
there  was  some  opposition  to  James  A. 
Shorter  going  to  Israel  Church,  told  him  of 
that  fact  on  the  Sunday  morning  when  he  was 


Rev.  James  Alexander  Shorter.  21 


on  his  way  to  take  charge ; but  being  a man 
of  great  discretion,  he  went  to  the  pulpit  as 
though  he  did  not  know  there  was  any  feel- 
ing whatever  against  him.  His  text  upon 
that  occasion  was,  “For  other  foundation 
can  no  man  lay  than  that  is  laid,  which  is 
Jesus  Christ. — 1st  Cor.,  3d  Chapter,  11th 
verse;  and  when  he  was  through  his  sermon 
the  peoj)le  began  to  think  perhaps  he  would 
do,  although  he  was  one  of  their  own  boys. 
He  preached  again  at  night  and  that  settled 
the  question. 

The  members  and  congregation  soon  began 
to  rally  to  him.  The  Church  building  was 
greatly  improved,  gas  was  brought  into  it, 
and  every  person  believed  that  the  old  ship 
was  safe  with  such  a man  at  the  helm  as 
James  A.  Shorter.  He  spent  two  years  at 
that  old  station,  and,  perhaps  they  were  as 
successful  as  any  in  his  ministry.  In 


22 


The  Life  of 


November,  1851,  be  was  married  in  Israel 
Church,  Washington,  to  Mrs.  Maria  Kerr, 
who  bore  him  two  lovely  daughters.  The 
mother  and  both  daughters  preceded  him 
to  the  better  land. 


CHAPTER  III. 


In  1853  lie  was  appointed  by  Bishop 
Nazrey  to  Bethel  Church,  Baltimore.  Enter- 
ing upon  his  work  with  an  energy  that  had 
characterized  him  in  previous  years,  the 
people  soon  began  to  appreciate  him  as  a 
pastor  and  a Christian  gentleman.  His 
church  was  in  debt  several  thousand  dollars, 
and  he  went  to  work  resolving  to  pay  it  off 
before  his  time  was  up,  and  having  a grand 
set  of  officers  who  seconded  all  of  his  efforts, 
on  one  Sabbath,  he  raised  fifteen  hundred 
dollars,  which  removed  all  the  indebtedness, 
and  he  had  a grand  jubilee,  at  which  Bishops 
Nazrey  and  Payne  were  present  and 
preached. 

After  spending  two  years  very  pleasantly 
at  Bethel  Church,  Baltimore,  he  was  ap- 


24 


The  Life  of 


pointed  by  Bishop  Quinn  to  Ebenezer  Church, 
in  the  same  city ; and  the  same  marked  success 
attended  his  labors  there  as  at  Bethel  Church. 

At  the  Baltimore  Conference  of  1857,  he 
asked  to  be  transferred  to  the  Ohio  Confer- 
ence, which  was  granted.  The  Conference 
passed  strong  resolutions  expressing  the 
sadness  with  which  they  parted  with  him, 
and  asking  that  Grod  would  enable  him  to  be 
as  useful  in  his  new  field  as  he  had  been  in 
the  Baltimore  Conference. 

After  the  adjournment  of  the  Conference, 
he  spent  a few  w’eeks  in  the  cities  of  Wash- 
ington and  Baltimore,  and  then  took  leave  of 
his  brethren  and  many  friends,  and  started 
for  Ohio  and  settled  at  Wilberforce  Univer- 
sity, where  he  hoped  to  educate  his  children; 
and  his  hopes  were  realized. 

After  entering  the  Ohio  Conference,  he 
soon  came  to  the  front,  and  was  regarded  as 


Rev.  James  Alexander  Shorter.  25 


a man  who  could  be  trusted  with  any  Charge 
in  the  Conference.  He  filled  all  of  the 
prominent  appointments  in  that  Conference. 

When  Wilberforce  University  was  bought 
by  Bishop  D.  A.  Payne  for  the  A.  M.  E. 
Churcl>,  James  A.  Shorter  and  his  wife  were 
among  the  first  to  give  the  largest  amount 
of  money.  He  went  up  so  fast  in  the  estA 
mation  of  the  members  of  the  Conference 
he  belonged  to,  that  they  began  to  think 
there  was  no  man  who  would  fill  the  Epis- 
copal office  with  more  dignity  than  he. 

In  1864,  when  the  General  Conference  met 
in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  it  was  generally  thought 
he  would  be  elected  as  the  second  man,  as 
there  were  two  to  be  elected. 

When  the  time  arrived  for  the  balloting  to 
commence,  it  was  still  the  opinion  of  many 
that  he  would  be  elected.  There  were  ninety 
votes  cast,  and  the  first  successful  candidate 


26 


The  Life  of 


received  eigdity-four,  and  was  declared  elec- 
ted. Jas.  A.  Shorter  and  J.  P.  Campbell 
received  the  next  highest  votes,  but  neither 
of  them  received  enough  to  elect. 

There  was  a recess  taken  for  twenty 
minutes,  after  which  the  Conference  reas- 
sembled and  again  had  the  roll  called  for 
balloting;  after  this,  when  the  ballots  were 
counted,  J.  A.  Shorter  was  shown  to  have 
received  the  same  number  of  votes  counted 
on  the  first  ballot,  but  not  enough  to  elect 
him.  J.  P.  Campbell  received  the  necessary 
vote,  and  was  declared  elected. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


No  man  ever  stood  up  under  a defeat  more 
manfully  than  James  A.  Shorter  did;  for  it 
was  a position  that  he  said  he  never  sought, 
and  he  would  do  nothing  to  elect  himself ; 
believing,  that  if  the  Lord  intended  him  for 
that  place,  he  would  ultimately  get  there, 
and  his  administration  would  be  blessed. 
But  if  he  was  not  intended  for  the  place, 
he  might  get  there,  but  would  not  be  a 
success. 

A great  many  men  have  gone  down  under 
a defeat,  and  entirely  retired  from  the  arena 
of  public  life,  both  in  Church  and  State. 
Politicians  have  left  the  party  they  formerly 
belonged  to,  and  the  Ministers  have  left  the 
Church. 


28 


The  Life  of 


James  A.  Shorter  went  from  the  Greneral 
Conference  cheerfully  to  his  work  without 
expressing  a word  of  dissatisfaction  as  to 
the  action  of  that  body.  He  served  out  his 
term  at  the  Cincinnati  Station,  and  was  then 
made  the  agent  for  Wilberforce  University; 
and  the  next  year  he  was  appointed  to  Wylie 
Street  Church,  Pittsburg,  Pa. 

In  May,  1868,  the  Greneral  Conference  met 
in  Washington,  D.  C.,  Israel  Church  being 
the  place  where  it  assembled,  and  also  the 
Church  which  James  A.  Shorter  had  joined 
thirty  years  previous.  As  soon  as  the  Gen- 
eral Conference  had  decided  to  elect  three 
more  Bishops,  almost  every  delegate  present 
said  James  A.  Shorter  would  be  the  first  one 
to  be  elected,  and  so  he  was. 

After  his  ordination,  the  Bishops  met  to 
lay  off  their  work.  He  was  assigned  to  the 
unorganized  work  in  the  South-west,  and 


Rev.  James  Alexander  Shorter.  29 


organized  tlie  Conferences  in  Kentucky,  Ten- 
nessee, Mississippi,  Arkansas  and  Texas ; 
where  he  still  lives  in  the  memories  and 
hearts  of  both  ministers  and  people. 

In  1872,  the  General  Conference  met  in 
the  city  of  Nashville,  Tennessee.  At  the 
close  of  that  session  the  Bishops  changed 
districts,  and  Bishop  kShorter  was  assigned 
to  the  first  district,  including  the  Philadelphia, 
New  York  and  New  England  Conferences. 
To  this  work  he  went  very  cheerfully  and 
organized  the  New  Jersey  Conference.  He 
was  heard  to  say  that  the  four  years  spent 
in  the  First  Episcopal  District  were  the  most 
pleasant  of  any  ever  spent  by  him.  The  min- 
isters and  people  felt,  when  he  was  leaving, 
that  they  were  parting  with  a father  and 
friend. 

In  1876,  he  went  to  the  General  Conference 
at  Atlanta,  Georgia,  full  of  Christian  enthu- 


30 


The  Life  of 


siasm;  and  having  been  appointed  by  his 
colleagues  to  write  the  quadrennial  address, 
he  prepared  it  with  some  care,  and  it  was 
read  by  him  with  ease.  The  contents  thereof 
gave  general  satisfaction  to  Bishops  and  the 
delegates  composing  the  Greneral  Conference. 

At  the  close  of  the  General  Conference  of 
1876,  he  was  assigned  to  the  Fourth  Episco- 
pal district,  consisting  of  the  Indiana,  Illi- 
nois, Missouri  and  Kansas  Conferences,  in 
which  district  he  made  a grand  impression. 
He  was  also  made  chairman  of  the  Missionary 
Board,  and  commenced  immediate  operations, 
which  were  attended  with  marked  success  as 
will  be  seen  hereafter. 

The  Church  had  been  laboring  for  years  to 
maintain  a mission  in  the  Island  of  Hayti, 
but  had  not  met  with  much  success  until 
Bishop  Shorter  took  hold  of  the  work,  and  in 
a short  time,  a missionary  in  the  person  of 


Rev.  James  Alexander  Shorter.  31 


Rev.  Charles  Wesley  Mossell,  was  all 
equipped  and  sent  off  to  that  field. 

The  missionary  was  so  successful  in  the 
work  there,  that  several  native  youths  were 
converted  and  sent  over  to  America  to  be 
educated  at  Wilberforce  University.  All  of 
them  graduated  with  honor.  Some  of  them 
have  returned  to  their  native  country  to 
preach  the  gospel,  and  one  is  a successful 
Pastor  in  one  of  the  Western  Conferences. 

The  Bishops,  ministers  and  members  of 
the  entire  church  appeared  to  think  that 
Bishop  James  A.  Shorter  was  peculiarly 
adapted  to  manage  the  missionary  affairs, 
and  therefore  he  was  continued  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  board  while  he  lived. 


CHAPTER  V. 


When  the  Greneral  Conference  met  at 
St.  Louis,  Missouri,  in  1880,  that  being-  in 
Bishop  Shorter’s  district,  he  was  chairman 
of  the  Committee  on  Public  Worship,  and 
filled  that  position  admirably.  After  the 
three  new  Bishops  were  elected  and  ordained, 
the  Episcopal  Committee,  for  the  first  time 
in  the  history  of  the  African  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  claimed  the  right  to  assign 
the  Bishops  to  their  respective  districts. 
The  propriety  of  such  a course  was  question- 
ed ^iy  Bishop  Shorter,  as  well  as  by  many 
others  composing  that  General  Conference. 

The  Third  Episcopal  District,  consisting  of 
the  Ohio,  Indiana,  and  Pittsburg  Conferences 
was  assigned  to  him.  This  being  the  dis- 


Rev.  James  Alexander  Shorter.  33 


trict  in  which  his  residence  was  located,  the 
appointment  in  that  respect  was  pleasant  to 
him. 

When  the  Bishops  assembled  to  select 
delegates  to  attend  the  Ecumenical  Confer- 
ence, which  was  to  meet  in  London,  Bishops 
Payne,  Shorter,  Brown,  and  Dickerson  were 
chosen ; and  they  acquitted  themselves  with 
great  credit  to  themselves,  as  well  as  to  the 
Church  they  represented. 

On  Bishop  Shorter’s  return  home  from 
London,  he  resumed  his  work  in  the  Third 
District;  the  ministers  and  people  through- 
out the  entire  District  seconded  all  of  his 
efforts,  and  the  four  years  spent  there  by 
him  were  very  pleasant. 

Wilberforce  University  being  situated 
near  his  residence,  the  President,  Trustees 
and  Students,  always  had  a hearty  welcome 
to  his  home ; several  Students  lived  in  his 


34 


The  Life  of 


family  while  they  were  attending  school, 
and  although  some  of  them  have  graduated 
and  gone  out  into  the  world  to  educate  others, 
as  long  as  they  live  they  will  remember  “Pa” 
and  “Ma”  Shorter,  as  he  and  his  wife  were 
called  by  them. 

The  four  years  spent  in  the  Third  Episco- 
pal District  passed  away  rapidly,  and  the 
time  arrived  when  Bishop  Shorter  held  his 
last  annual  Conference  in  the  Third  Episco- 
pal District,  and  made  ready  to  go  up  to  the 
General  Conference  for  the  last  time  on  earth ; 
and  as  there  had  occurred  nothing  to  mar 
the  peace  of  his  work,  the  Conferences  had 
all  elected  good  and  strong  men  to  the  Gen- 
eral Conference. 

May,  1884,  the  General  Conference  met  in 
the  City  of  Baltimore,  and  in  the  old  Citidel 
of  African  Methodism,  (Bethel  Church),  and 
when  the  roll  was  called  by  Eev.  B.  W. 


Rev.  James  Alexander  Shorter.  35 


Arnett,  Bishop  Shorter  answered  to  the  roll 
call  for  the  last  time  at  the  General  Confer- 
ence on  earth. 

In  many  respects  that  was  a remarkable 
General  Conference ; for  it  had  been  forty 
years  since  a General  Conference  had  met  in 
Baltimore  City.  The  address  of  welcome 
was  delivered  by  the  Bishop  who  resides  in 
the  City.  The  Quadrennial  Sermon  was 
preached  by  Bishop  Brown,  and  the  address 
read  by  Bishop  W.  F.  Dickerson. 

The  Committee  on  Episcopacy  felt  it  was 
their  duty  to  assign  the  Bishops  to  their 
several  Districts.  Bishop  Shorter  told  them 
that  it  was  a ursurpation  of  power  on  their 
part  to  attempt  to  do  such  a thing.  He 
thought  it  was  unfair  to  the  older  Bishops  to 
give  them  as  much  work  as  the  younger  and 
stronger  ones.  He  was  however  assigned  to 
Georgia  and  South  Carolina,  and  when  the 


36 


The  Life  of 


announcement  was  made  he  said,  that  work 
was  too  hard  for  him,  advanced  as  he  was  in 
life. 

When  the  Greneral  Conference  adjourned 
in  the  month  of  May,  1884,  he  was  soon  on 
his  way  to  his  work,  and  found  some  parts 
of  it  very  much  distracted,  yet  being  a man 
of  extensive  experience  and  stern  integrity, 
he  was  able  to  harmonize  the  contending 
elements. 

In  April,  1887,  an  invitation  was  extended 
to  him  by  the  Presiding  Bishop  of  the  Bal- 
timore Conference,  to  visit  that  Conference, 
which  was  to  sit  in  his  native  city,  Wash- 
ington, B.  C.,  assuring  him  that  he  was 
always  welcome,  having  friends  among  the 
ministers  and  laymen.  He  accepted,  and 
was  there  when  the  Conference  convened. 
He  was  invited  by  the  Presiding  Bishop  to 
preach  for  him  the  Ordination  Sermon  on 


Rev.  James  Alexander  Shorter.  37 


Sunday  Morning.  He  accepted  and  preached 
to  a large  congregation  in  the  Metropolitan 
Church  ; text,  “Behold  what  manner  of  love 
the  Father  hath  bestowed  upon  us  that  we 
should  be  called  the  sons  of  God.” — 1st  Epistle 
of  St.  John;  3d.  Chapter,  1st  Verse.  The 
Sermon  was  delivered  with  great  energy  and 
power.  He  said  in  his  remarks  that  perhaps 
it  was  the  last  time  the  members  of  the  good 
old  Baltimore  Conference  would  hear  him 
preach,  and  said  that  when  he  was  dead  and 
gone,  he  wanted  them  to  say  nothing  about 
him  but  the  truth. 

That  was  the  last  time  the  members  of  the 
Baltimore  Conference  heard  Bishop  Shorter 
preach.  After  the  adjournment  of  the  Con- 
ference he  bade  adieu  to  his  relations  and 
friends,  and  went  to  the  city  of  Baltimore, 
Maryland,  and  on  Sunday,  May  8th,  1887, 
preached  his  last  sermon  in  Bethel  Church 


38 


The  Life  of 


to  a large  congregation  ; text,  “For  tlie  wages 
of  sin  is  death,  but  the  gift  of  Grod  is  eter- 
nal life,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.” 
Thirty-two  years  had  passed  away  since  he 
was  the  pastor  of  Bethel  Church,  Baltimore, 
and  therefore  almost  a new  congregation  as- 
sembled to  hear  him  Whilst  in  Baltimore 
City  he  visited  what  few  of  the  old  mem- 
bers he  could  find,  and  then  went  to  see  the 
inmates  at  the  Old  Women’s  Home,  and  left  a 
parting  blessing  with  them  and  started  for 
Columbia,  Pennsylvania. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


When  the  Philadelphia  Conference  met 
on  Wednesday  morning,  May  11,  1887,  in 
the  city  of  Columbia,  Pa.,  Bishop  James  A. 
Shorter  was  there  assisting  Bishop  Ward  in 
the  business  of  the  Conference. 

Sunday,  May  15th,  the  servic.es  were  held 
in  the  large  Opera  House.  Bishop  Shorter  was 
appointed  to  preach  at  11  o’clock  A.  M.  He 
stated  that  among  the  many  things  which  oc- 
curred when  he  was  the  minister  in  Columbia, 
Pa.,  that  he  could  not  forget,  was  the  arrest 
of  one  brother  Baker,  who  was  claimed  to  be 
a fugitive  slave  from  Maryland,  and  dragged 
off  to  Philadelphia.  There  he  had  a hearing. 
The  claimant  proved  his  property  and  the 
fugitive  was  given  up,  and  would  have  been 


The  Life  of 


40  ' 

sent  Soutli  had  it  not  have  been  for  the  energy 
of  his  wife,  who  raised  the  money  and  bought 
him. 

The  meeting  of  Bishop  Shorter  and  his 
old  friend  Baker  at  Columbia,  Pa.,  was  a 
happy  one,  and  it  gave  them  the  greatest 
satisfaction  to  know  that  the  slave  flag  no 
longer  waved  over  the  “land  of  the  free  and 
the  home  of  the  brave.” 

His  sermon  on  that  Sunday  morning  will 
long  be  remembered  by  the  large  congrega- 
tion there  assembled,  for  it  was  the  last  time 
that  they  saw  his  face  and  heard  his  voice. 

When  the  Philadelphia  Conference  ad- 
journed at  Columbia,  Pa.,  Bishop  Shorter 
took  final  leave  of  Bishop  Ward  and  the 
members  of  the  Conference,  to  meet  them  no 
more  on  earth. 

He  took  the  train  at  Columbia  and  started 
westward,  calling  at  Harrisburg  to  see  a few 


Rev.  James  Alexander  Shorter.  41 


friends  and  acquaintances ; then  passing 
along  the  beautiful  Juniata  river,  he  looked 
out  on  the  towns  of  Huntingdon  and  Lewis- 
town,  which  was  a part  of  the  first  circuit  he 
ever  traveled.  Pausing  a short  time  at  the 
city  of  Altoona  ; then  reaching  the  great  Alle- 
gheny mountains,  moving  around  that  “Horse 
Shoe  Curve,”  with  one  Iron  Horse  in  front  of 
the  car,  another  in  the  rear,  he  reached  the 
apex,  and  then  went  on  to  the  Smoky  City 
(Pittsburg),  Pa.  There  he  spent  a short  time 
visiting  a few  old  friends  ; and  then  started 
for  his  home  at  Wilberforce,  Ohio. 

The  Commencements  at  Wilberforce  Uni- 
versity are  always  occasions  of  interest.  The 
citizens  of  the  surrounding  cities  and  country, 
as  well  as  the  Trustees  and  friends,  come  from 
far  and  near  to  be  present  and  witness  the 
exercises.  The  house  of  Bishop  Shorter  was 
always  open  to  accommodate  the  visitors. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


The  Commencement  of  June,  1887,  arrived, 
the  Trustee  Board  met,  and  on  June  15, 1887, 
fifteen  days  before  he  took  his  exit  to  the 
better  land.  Bishop  Shorter  handed  over  one 
thousand  dollars  bequeathed  to  the  Univer- 
sity by  his  wife.  He  then  said,  “I  now  wish 
in  addition  to  this,  to  give  Wilberforce  Uni- 
versity one  thousand  dollars  myself.  I want 
to  give  mine  while  I am  living,  that  I may 
know  that  it  is  placed  to  the  credit  of  the 
institution,  and  that  no  one  coming  after  me 
can  disturb  it.”  The  Trustee  Board  ad- 
journed, and  the  exercises  of  the  commence- 
ment closed ; the  students  who  had  gradua- 
ted received  their  diplomas  and  bade  adieu 
to  the  President  and  Professors,  and  started 


Rev.  James  Alexander  Shorter.  43 


out  to  impart  to  others  what  they  had 
received  at  Wilberforce  University. 

There  was  quietness  about  that  place 
where,  a few  days  before,  all  was  excitement 
and  bustle.  Those  tall  hickory  and  ash  trees 
which  beautify  the  University  grounds,  were 
bowing  their  heads  before  the  breezes  of  a 
July  morning  and  the  birds  were  singing  in 
the  evergreens  surrounding  Bishop  Payne’s 
adjacent  cottage,  when  Bishop  James  A. 
Shorter,  early  on  that  morning,  Friday,  July 
1st,  arose  according  to  his  custom.  When 
the  hour  for  prayer  arrived,  the  family  was 
called  in.  The  Christian  part  of  the  family 
generally  read  and  prayed  alternately.  This 
being  the  morning  for  some  other  one  to  pray, 
to  the  surprise  of  all  present,  the  Bishop 
prayed  himself,  and  his  prayer  being  so  much 
longer  than  usual,  it  attracted  the  attention 
of  some  member  of  the  family  who  remarked 


Sk 


44 


The  Life  of 


that  the  Bishop’s  prayer  was  long  this 
morning.  After  breakfast  he  walked  out, 
looking  on  those  beautiful  fruit  trees  and 
evergreens  for  the  last  time.  Returning  to 
his  house,  he  was  taken  ill,  and  lying  down 
upon  the  sofa  he  said,  “Jesus  saves,  Jesus 
saves  me.”  The  pendulum  of  life  began  to 
vibrate  slowly,  and  still  more  slowly ; the 
death  sweat  settled  upon  his  brow ; his  lips 
quivered,  and  thus  passed  away  from  the 
African  Methodist  Episcopal  Church’s  Con- 
stellation, a star  of  the  first  magnitude. 

“Servant  of  God,  well  done ; 

Rest  from  thy  loved  employ  ; 

The  battle  fought,  the  victory  won. 

Enter  thy  Master’s  joy.” 

James  Alexander  Shorter  was  a man  of 
such  rare  excellence  that  human  language, 
however  eloquent  it  may  be,  or  however 
ready  in  the  pen  of  the  scribe,  cannot  portray 
his  character  in  too  glowing  colors. 


Rev.  James  Alexander  Shorter.  45 


One  writer  has  said : “He  was  a man  of 
sterling  integrity  ; liis  honesty  was  as  trans- 
parent as  a sunbeam.  He  was  the  uncom- 
promising enemy  of  all  kind  of  peculation. 
His  moral  character  was  without  taint  or 
blur ; no  stain  ever  rested  on  his  fair  fame.” 

His  life  is  a model  for  all  young  ministers. 
Frank,  truthful,  honest  and  pure,  he  has 
left  behind  him  a name  that  shall  live  on 
and  never  die.  He  was  a success  as  a Pastor 
and  Bishop.  The  churches  in  Baltimore, 
Washington,  Cincinnati,  and  Pittsburg,  as 
well  as  many  other  places,  will  tell  how  well 
he  succeeded. 

No  man  ever  had  more  friends  among  the 
children  of  the  church.  All  felt  at  home  in 
his  presence,  both  old  and  young.  As  a 
Bishop  he  was  a success  from  beginning  to 
end.  We  have  many  good  and  great  men, 
but  we  shall  be  compelled  to  look  for  some 


46 


The  Life  of 


time  before  we  find  another  James  Alex- 
ander Shorter.  We  could  trust  him  with 
our  Conferences  ; we  could  trust  him  with 
our  finances ; we  could  trust  him  with  our 
domestic  relations,  and  we  could  trust  him 
with  our  reputations. 

After  three  score  years  and  ten,  he  passed 
away  without  being  wrenched  and  broken 
upon  the  wheels  of  pain.  Opened  his  eyes 
upon  eternity  chanting  “Jesus  saves  me  now.” 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


The  members  and  ministers  of  the  African 
M.  E.  Church  can  look  back  upon  her  history 
for  the  last  seventy-three  years,  and  call  to 
mind  the  many  great  and  good  men  who 
have  led  on  this  branch  of  the  Christain  army, 
and  they  will  be  surprised  that  there  were 
such  men  as  Allen,  Brown,  Waters  and 
Quinn  among  her  Bishops,  who  could  inspire 
their  sons  to  go  forward,  lifting  up  fallen 
humanity. 

Among  the  Elders  without  an  education 
were  such  men  as  David  Smith,  Samuel  Todd, 
William  A.  Cornish,  N.  C.  W.  Cannon, 
Richard  Robinson,  Thomas  W.  Henry,  Levin 
Lee  and  William  Moore,  who  accomplished 
much  for  the  cause  in  their  day  and  genera- 
tion. 


48 


The  Life  of 


Local  preachers  have  been  also  great  fac- 
tors in  the  A.  M.  E.  Church.  No  one  who 
is  familiar  with  her  history  can  forget 
Joseph  M.  Corr  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  who 
was  Secretary  of  the  Conferences  for  years; 
George  Hogarth  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  who 
succeeded  Joseph  M.  Corr  as  Secretary  of 
the  Conferences  and  also  as  General  Book 
Steward;  Abram  D.  Lewis  and  John  Peck  of 
Pittsburg,  Pa.;  Joseph  Cox,  Stephen  Smith, 
Walter  Proctor,  J.  J.  G.  Bias  of  the  city  of 
Philadelphia;  and  Joshua  Gilbert,  John 
Jordan  and  Charles  Dunn  of  Baltimore,  Md. 
These  local  preachers  did  a grand  work  in 
their  time. 

The  itinerant  and  local  ministers  named 
above  have  all  passed  away  one  by  one.  A 
very  few  of  the  ministers  now  living  ever 
knew  that  such  men  ever  lived.  “The  work- 
men die  but  the  work  goes  on.” 


Ret.  Jaxes  Alexander  Shorter.  49 


The  31.  E.  Cliiu’ch  will  for  years  refer  with 
pleasure  to  Bishop  Simpson  as  their  great 
pulpit  orator,  to  Bishop  Grilhert  Haven  as  the 
friend  of  humanity,  to  Doctors  Bangs  and 
Stevens  as  historians,  to  3Ioffit,  Durbin, 
Guard,  Sewall,  Cookman  and  others  as  the 
wonders  of  the  age. 

The  31.  E.  Church  South  speaks  of  Bishop 
Bascome  and  Pierce  as  two  of  their  greatest 
pioneers.  The  A.  31.  E.  Zion  Church  delights 
to  speak  of  Bishops  Rush,  Galbeath,  and 
Clinton  as  three  of  their  brighest  stars,  and 
so  the  A.  31.  E.  Church  can  always  refer  with 
pleasure  to  the  Christian  reputation  of  James 
A.  Shorter,  one  of  the  Bishops;  to  31.  31. 
Clark,  Edward  C.  Africanus,  H.  C.  Turner, 
John  Tibbs,  W.  R.  Revels  and  A.  3IcIntosh 
as  pulpit  orators,  and  to  Lewis  Woodson, 
A.  R.  Green,  Robert  31.  Johnson  and  Daniel 
W.  3Ioore  as  theologians. 


50 


The  Life  of 


The  writer  of  tliis  small  hook  cherishes  a 
hope  that  the  members  and  friends  of  the 
late  Bishoj)  James  A.  Shorter,  as  well  as  the 
Bishops,  ministers  and  members  of  the  A.  JI. 
E.  Church,  will  accept  all  that  is  said  about 
him,  because  it  is  true,  and  a great  deal  more 
could  be  truthfully  said  about  his  work  and 
labors  of  love. 

In  conclusion  I will  say : 

“Live  till  the  Lord  in  glory  comes, 

And  wait  his  heaven  to  share ; 

He  now  is  fitting  up  your  home, 

Go  on  we  will  meet  you  there.” 


■ V/  ■ Vi  n 


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